Bruce A. Mitchell (1927 – 2020)
GREENFIELD, IN—Bruce Allerton Mitchell, age 92, of Greenfield, Indiana, entered his rest in peace April 2, 2020 at his home.
He was born November 12, 1927 in Bronxville to Lt. Col. Donald E. Mitchell and Helene A. Mitchell.
He grew up in Spencertown and graduated from Chatham High School, class of 1945. He later graduated from St. Paul Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri, and obtained a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Evansville.
Mr. Mitchell enjoyed an interesting and varied career. In his earlier years after high school, he worked as an apprentice at General Electric in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and loved the growing field of electronics and communications. In the 1940s and later years he worked and wrote for the Chatham Courier, and was an announcer at several radio stations, one being WHUC, Hudson and another in West Springfield, MA.
He served in the U. S. Air Force during the Korean War with continual travel assignments for the purpose of training expanding military staff knowledge in the new U.S. Air Force field of electronics. His discharge from service was followed by 16 years as an electronics field engineer with McDonnell Douglas when he was stationed on the aircraft carrier, Enterprise, during the Cuban missile crisis. It was said at the time that he knew everything there was to know about the Phantom F-4 fighter. He later became magazine editor with McDonnell Douglas Publications.
In the early 1970s, Mr. Mitchell followed a call to the ministry in the United Methodist Church, serving churches in Missouri, Indiana, Florida and Michigan, retiring from the appointive pastorate in 2008 at Whittemore, Michigan. He hosted a number of travel groups who visited the Holy Land, and later, groups travelling worldwide. He enjoyed writing, and wrote newspaper columns and magazine articles about religion and travel, as well as a book about Christian witnessing. He enjoyed working in radio as a DJ in Texas, and on a Christian music show in Rensselaer, Indiana, co-hosted with his wife.
He met the love of his life, Joyce (Lakin), on a blind date and they were married December 19, 1953. He loved music, along with story-telling, and had a wicked sense of humor. He truly enjoyed reading biographies and military novels. He never tired of taking cruises with his wife and travelled the world with her. He appreciated art, and was continually creating imaginations through projects of painting or sewing. He was particularly fascinated with embroidery projects in his later years and was always thinking about the next creation to be enjoyably displayed in his home.
Mr. Mitchell leaves to honor his memory: his beloved wife of 66 years, Joyce (Lakin) Mitchell; children, Linda (Sam) Gould, of Bemidji, Minnesota, Amy (Vic) Kurz of New Berlin, Pennsylvania, Greg (Michelle) Mitchell of Enterprise, Oregon, Lisa (James) Smith of Greenfield, Indiana; a brother, Roger (Barbara) Mitchell of Sunderland, Massachusetts; 2 nieces, 17 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Jeff Mitchell and his uncle, Ralph Allerton Winans.
Services will be held at a later date, with interment at the Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly, Michigan.
Condolences may be conveyed at frenchblasl.com.
Gay E. McGuire (1937 – 2020)
GHENT—Gay E. McGuire, 83 years old, a lifelong resident of Philmont, died peacefully Wednesday, April 8, 2020 at the Ghent Rehabilitation and Nursing Center.
Born in Hudson, March 9, 1937, she was the daughter of the late Albert and Georgianna (Haywood) McGuire.
She was a billing clerk for many years and retired from Columbia Memorial Hospital. She loved cats, knitting and making beautiful beaded ornaments.
Ms. McGuire is survived by: her many nieces and nephews including, George Twadell, Carol (Twaddle) Ostrander, Melodie (McGuire) Coons, Linda (McGuire) Nygard, Cheryl (McGuire) Carter, Marcia (McGuire) Nadeau, Laurie McGuire, Gay Miller, Glenn Miller, Georgia (Miller) Bozarth, Grant Miller and many great- and great-great-nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by brothers, Philip and Lewis McGuire and sisters, Anne Twaddle and Greta Miller.
There are no calling hours. Graveside funeral services will be Friday, April 17, 2020 at Mellenville Union Cemetery for immediate family only.
Donations in her memory may be made to the Columbia- Greene Humane Society. Arrangements are with the Sacco Funeral Home, 700 Town Hall Drive, Greenport. To leave online condolences visit www.saccofuneralhome.com.
Philip Bues (1943 – 2020)
CANAAN—Philip Bues died March 3, 2020 in St. Augustine, FL. The memorial service for Mr. Bues that was scheduled April 25, 2020 at Canaan Congregational Church has been canceled due to current situation and will be announced at a later date. For an online obituary visit wenkfuneralhome.com
John B. Belterman, Jr. (1931 – 2020)
COPAKE—John Barney Belterman, Jr., 89 of Copake passed peacefully at his residence, Thursday, April 9, 2020.
He was born January 17, 1931 in Hudson, a son of John B. and Jeanette (Murray) Belterman.
He proudly served his country with the United States Air Force as a staff sergeant in Korea from 1951 to 1955.
He was employed in the service and repair of office machines and computers with ASD Company of Poughkeepsie.
On June 14, 1958 in Poughquag, he married Joyce Louise (Swensen) Belterman. She predeceased him December 4, 2001.
Survivors include: his three daughters, Linda Grayson (Jim) of Copake; Terry Carlotti (Vince) of Rineyville, KY, and Susan Hann of Poughquag; his grandchildren, Melissa Peppe, Daniel Grayson, Christopher Hann, Amy Hann, Jessica Carlotti and Hannah Carlotti; his great-grandchildren, Teagan Grayson, Kinsley Grayson, Wyatt Grayson and Phoebe Peppe.
Mr. Belterman also leaves his siblings, Barbara Scalera, Joyce Shrader, Jeanette Mickle, Claudia Belterman and Richard Belterman.
In addition to his wife, he was predeceased by three sisters, Bonnie Misetich, Eleanor Clark and Beverly Hartford and a brother, Robert Belterman.
Due to current circumstances a private interment for immediate family will be held Monday, April 13 at the Clove Cemetery.
Arrangements are with the Peck and Peck Funeral Home, 8063 Route 22, Copake. Express condolences at www.peckandpeck.net.
James D. Hargis (1951 – 2020)
TROY—James D. Hargis passed away April 8, 2020 at Van Rensselaer Manor.
Born December 9, 1951 in Cincinnati, OH, he was the son of Richard and Barbara Brady Hargis.
He is survived by: his wife, Carol; son, Jared (Kristen Schroath) Hargis; stepdaughter, Natalie Hanson; stepson, Charles (Heather) Buhler; grandchildren, Morgan Hanson, Garrett Hanson, Christopher Hanson, Charles Buhler and Samantha Buhler; mother, Barbara Hargis; sisters, Sandra Hargis, Laura Altman and Janine Presnell.
He was predeceased by his father, Richard.
“Jim” received his BS from the University of Cincinnati and an MBA from the College of Saint Rose. He was a U.S. Army veteran serving during the Vietnam era.
Mr. Hargis was president and CEO of SYRGIS/LYCUS LTD. in El Dorado, Arkansas; interim president of SYRGIS Performance Products LLC in Covington, Kentucky; product/technical manager at BASF in Rensselaer, and lab supervisor at Cincinnati Milacron. He did consulting work upon retirement and with his wife and was part owner of M & W Books in Hillsboro, Ohio.
He belonged to the Society of Plastics Engineers. He was one of the founders of the Polymer Modifiers and Additives Division. He was also a past-member of the Canaan Protective Fire Company.
Mr. Hargis was an avid reader of non-fiction, including history and railroads. He enjoyed golf, music, traveling and movies. He loved and was proud of his family, helped where he was able, and always tried his best to keep his “Mouse (wife)” happy.
A celebration of his life will be scheduled later in the year due to current circumstances.
Memorials in his name may be made to Doctors without Borders https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org. Arrangements are with the French, Gifford, Preiter & Blasl Funeral Home, 25 Railroad Avenue, Chatham. Condolences may be conveyed at frenchblasl.com.
